Clarkston library faces budget cuts due to proposal loss WITH VIDEO

By MEGAN SEMERAZ

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

The Clarkston Independence District Library was depending on a proposed millage to maintain its current staff and services, but the proposal was struck down Nov. 6 by only 30 votes, with a total of 18,916 votes cast.

The past few days have been emotional and busy for the library staff, said Julie Meredith, director of the library.

The library board decided Friday to cut the hours of operation. Beginning Dec. 3, the library will be open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, and closed Sunday.

One of the library board members got teary-eyed as they announced the reduced hours at the library board meeting, she said.

They will also be cutting about $100,000 from their budget, which will include eliminating at least one full-time position.

One person on the library staff has been contemplating retirement.

The new budget will be finalized on Dec. 6, and Meredith has been given recommendations by the board on what should be cut.

Joe Luginski, mayor of the Village of Clarkston, said he thinks the library is a great resource for everyone and the cuts are unfortunate.

"The library's a great source of information for our students and our youth, everyone uses the library ... I think it's a vital part of the community ... I do believe there will be another try for this library again in the future."

Chris McGowen from Independence Township believes many residents did not know about the proposal.

"I think if more people knew about it, it would have passed for sure," McGowen said. "We come here all the time with my daughter."

For Barb Zabel of Clarkston the proposal was not written well, which was asking for trouble.

"The proposal was improperly written and if people don't know what it means and they can't interpret it, they'll vote no," Zabel said. "And people love this library, this is a well-loved library. Everyone comes here ... It's unfortunate."

Zabel also thinks residents should try to donate money to the library, and maybe get together to hold a fundraiser.

"Now what we have to do is make a contribution to the library before the end of the year," she said.

Residents can help raise money by donating to the Friends of the Library, Meredith said.

They have done many programs in the past to help raise money for library luxuries, but the money will probably start being used for necessities.

With the poor economy, Zabel said people need their local library to use the computer, print things, apply for jobs and read books that they cannot afford to buy.

The library also provides residents with programs for children, which helps in early childhood development of literacy, said Erin Jurand, a resident of Clarkston.

"I think the potential cuts could be very damaging to our younger population because the children need resources especially community and public resources such as the library because they provide funding for children's programs that teach early literacy concepts," Jurand said.

Meredith said she is currently working on the newsletter with all of the programming, and it will definitely have some cuts -- she just doesn't know what will be cut yet.

"Children also get to select books free of charge, if they don't have books in the house, they can get books at the grade-level as another way to increase their reading-level at home," Jurand said.

The library will continue to operate on the same 0.691 millage, and the approximated $25,000 raised annually by the Friends of the Library.